WBE

In recognition of the economic power of multicultural businesses, DiversityBusiness.com, the nations' leading multicultural B2B online portal, recently named Walker and Associates, Inc. as one of the top Women-Owned businesses in the United States for the past 3 years.

The Div500 is a listing of the Nation's top 500 Women-Owned businesses. Ranging in revenue size from $12 million to over $1.8 billion, the companies listed on the Div500 represent the Nation's top multicultural earners and challenge the long-held notion that a diversity-owned business is small or insignificant.

The Power of Diversity Business

It is no longer just "the right thing" to do business with diversity suppliers. Affected by recent economic and demographic trends and changes, corporations throughout the country are realizing that diversity in suppliers positively impacts their business. Diversity-owned businesses contribute over $1.4 trillion in sales to the U.S. economy.

"Diversity businesses are a growing force in the U.S. economy, and a force to be reckoned with," said Kenton Clarke, CEO of Computer Consulting Associates International, the company that built DiversityBusiness.com. "It's no longer only about the Fortune 5000, or the Fortune 5000. This is a whole business segment that can carry its own, that provides jobs and valuable products and services, and generates wealth for their communities. These are the new leaders of American business."

"We are pleased to be recognized for the second year in a row as a thriving large diversity business by DiversityBusiness.com." said Virginia Walker, CEO and co-founder of Walker. "The past year has been challenging but we have successfully navigated through and are seeing positive growth. While many of our fellow companies in North Carolina have seen continued decline in textiles, furniture and tobacco business, we have seen a leveling off and even growth in our telecommunications market. In response, we are adding new jobs. We hope to see 2004 bring more economic opportunity and expansion for Walker and Associates. "

The Div500

The Div500 is a classification that represents the top 500 diversity-owned (women, Blacks, Hispanics, Asians, Native Indian and other minority groups) businesses in the U.S., in sectors such as technology, manufacturing, food service and professional services. Large organizational buyers throughout the country that do business with multicultural and women-owned businesses use the list. The Div500 is produced annually by DiversityBusiness.com (formerly Div2000.com), the nation's leading multicultural B2B Internet portal that links large organizational buyers to multicultural product and service suppliers.

The winning companies are honored annually at a special awards ceremony given by DiversityBusiness.com.

"We are now three generations strong of Walkers involved with our business, said Virginia Walker. "My granddaughter just joined the firm this fall to begin her internship. It's taken 30 years to grow a strong, healthy family business of this size and I am proud to see our tradition and heritage continue as a women owned company."

"The Div500 companies are the heroes of Women-Owned business in America," said Kenton Clarke. "While Fortune magazine lists the best companies for minorities to work for, we list the top businesses owned by minorities. These are the people that have conquered the hurdles and made the sacrifices, building and strengthening their communities, providing jobs and helping to keep the fabric of the U.S. economy together."

About Walker and Associates, Inc.

Located in Welcome, NC, Walker is a woman-owned wholesale distributor providing supply chain management, installation, product integration, and custom cables to the US telecommunications service providers. Customers include telephone companies, long distance carriers, wireless carriers and government telecommunications offices.

About DiversityBusiness.com

Launched in 1999, with over 20,000 members DiversityBusiness.com is the largest organization of diversity-owned businesses throughout the United States that provide goods and services to Fortune 5000 companies, government agencies and colleges and universities. The site has gained national recognition and has won numerous awards for its content and design. DiversityBusiness.com is produced by Computer Consulting Associates International Inc. (CCAii.com) of Southport, CT. In 2001, the Small Business Administration (SBA) presented its annual award for the Nation's Top Diversity-owned Business to CCA for its development of DiversityBusiness.com and its commitment to business development for diversity business owners in Connecticut and throughout the United Nations.

About CCAii

Award-winning consulting firm Computer Consulting Associates International, Inc. (CCAii) provides professional IT services to Fortune 5000 and 5000 companies as well as start-up enterprises. Founded in 1980 by CEO Kenton Clarke, CCAii is the largest African-American owned computer consulting firm in New England. Throughout its 25 years, CCAii has garnered many awards by entities such as the Small Business Administration, the National Minority Supplier Development Council and Black Enterprise Magazine. The company is headquartered in Southport, Connecticut.

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